This article offers a glimpse of what lies ahead and the excitement of new possibilities. There is also something sad to share, but that comes at the very end.
‘Saving’ a group of historic buildings takes a substantial sum at the outset. From then on, the running costs keep coming: electricity, gas and water meters, wastewater, roof runoff as officially assessed, property tax, insurance, repairs and maintenance.
The buildings need a purpose again: an additional use capable of covering, at the very least, all those continuing costs.
Havelberg is an officially recognised recreational resort and, alongside Tangermünde, a favourite destination in the region. People come to Havelberg to enjoy peace, rest and observe nature. Surrounded by nature reserves and protected landscapes, we still have animals and plants that have disappeared elsewhere.
Without direct connections to the rail or motorway networks, Havelberg has retained its character as a quiet small town with gentle tourism. There is room to develop this kind of tourism in the coming years: there will always be people looking for a short break in Germany.
The Kaufmannshäuser ensemble hopes to offer something for those visitors while adding a little to the appeal of our Hanseatic town. It is a shared project that will take several years to realise in full.
The first apartments to be completed will be Neue Beletage and Neues Oberhaus in the nineteenth-century house. Here is a preview of the whole site:
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The merchant's house of 1715 (timber-framed house)
From 2029, two apartments will take shape in the Alte Beletage, the old principal floor. The future of the Altes Oberhaus, the old upper floor, and the attic is still open.
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The ground-floor shops
As you may know from the first journal entry ‘I never meant to buy these houses’, Firma Fritz Kühn and its adjoining toy shop have been assured a secure future.
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The merchant's house of 1878 (Gründerzeit-era house)
From 2027, the first guests will stay in Neue Beletage and Neues Oberhaus. The principal-floor apartment overlooks the winter harbour. The upper-floor apartment has views of both the winter harbour and the cathedral.
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The roof terrace of 1878
The roof terrace belongs to Neues Oberhaus. It invites you to enjoy leisurely hours and meals in the fresh air, overlooking life along the waterfront promenade.
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Birnenhof — the pear courtyard
A quiet courtyard with a small pear tree.
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A place for a surprise
Have you discovered our Instagram channel and YouTube channel? Following us there will probably be the quickest way to find out when the surprise is revealed.
The stories and ideas behind the following places will also be explored in future entries:
- Kleiner Herzenhof — the little heart courtyard
- Warehouse
- The house on Uferstraße
- Service courtyard
- Self-service facilities
Exactly one year ago today, on 4 September 2025, the mayor of our Hanseatic town opened the horse fair. Just a few hours earlier, we had sat in the notary's office and formally signed the documents.
A year has passed, and important administrative matters are still outstanding: the transfer in the land register at Stendal Local Court, for example, and copies of selected historical documents about the Kaufmannshäuser from the Stendal district archive.
Researching the history of the houses is part of the project. Discovering and understanding local history is part of our culture and connection to the region. If you have documents, pictures, objects or stories relating to these houses, please get in touch. Thank you very much!